Busy Christmas time for the Jackman Family

Wow...this one's a long one.  It has been a fun couple of weeks at our house.  Little Ben started speech at school because his r's, or lack of, are starting to effect his reading and spelling terribly.  Logan started basketball...she is a guard.  She made a basket during half-time today!!! It's fun to watch her.  I am proud of her for trying so hard and saving the money to do it.  She went to practice all by herself the first day and by the end of practice she had talked herself into joining the rest of her team. lol  She is coming so far!  She is still scared, but choir and her teachers have really been a tremendous help for her confidence.  Carter continues to work on his merit badges and piano...and percussion.  I can't wait till he has real drums...lol...the bells and the practice pad for his drums are SO loud already!  Morgan is still working on her cello.  She was supposed to tryout for a solo today and panicked and gave it to the other boy.  She is so upset know that she didn't even try.  She is getting more and more beautiful everyday.  She is also working on her personal progress with me too.  We have finished our Faith experiences and can now start our Faith Projects.  Little Ben wrestled a few weeks ago and did great!  Grandpa got to come watch him and help him a little bit too.  It was so fun to see him do well on his first tournament.  Balian is...exhausting. lol  He is very fun, funny, happy, crazy, energetic, etc.  He informed me the other day that we should have another baby.  I told him that I'm not having more.  We discussed that I asked the Dr. to cut my baby tubes...and he did, and burned them so I can't have more.  He was almost screaming when he exclaimed, "Why?! We could have had another baby by now!!!"  I was laughing pretty hard and thought..."EXACTLY!"  I have such sweet and wonderful kids!  They always want to make something and take it to people in our ward.  They love people and think that everyone is as happy as they are.  We had a neighbor lose their home to a fire last week and my kids wanted to help.  Little Ben let me go through some of his clothes and shoes to take him to wear so he had something to wear to school. One of my good friends helped me gather stuff and we got clothes for all of them and some food for them, along with some toothbrushes.  I wish I had more stuff to share...that hadn't been used. lol  I saw her walking this morning with the new coat my friend had given her.  It made me smile. :)  Her parents live in our ward so they might get to come to church with us now.  We are continuing to get up @6 in the morning to read scriptures as a family...mostly. lol  Not everyone makes it all the way to the room we are reading in before they crash again but most of the time the kids do great.  Morgan and Logan are my regulars. Also during the last two weeks, our town had a Winterfest.  I was on the committee and ended up making snowmen out of different items and materials because out of all the teachers at the school, two did it.  Then I had a lot of help from Brandon's family and Josh on the trailer I had to decorate for the School Choir to ride in for the light parade.  After the parade my kids sang I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, and then my group of ladies The Way Off Broads sang too.  I took polls for the snowmen prizes and then awarded them.  I was excited that one of mine won 2nd place.  I used two hula-hoops and made a Venn diagram, turned it sideways, hung it from fishing line, and stuck eyes, nose and mouth on the wall behind it.  It was fun and we had assigned that one to Mr. Hansen's class, which is the special education teacher at our school.  Since one of my friends that was helping has a student there, and Ben and Dawn both work in that classroom, we thought it was a good choice. :)  Anyway, then we handed out gloves with Frosty and then cleaned up while the kids watched the fireworks.  Ben got off work for the end so that was nice.  I have been going to the daycare, the Head Start and Little Ben's class pretty regularly for my observation hours, and have 2 1/2 papers left for the next 10 days of school.  Life is awesome. Life is crazy. Life is warm now that I got hot burning wood from the shop! Saturday is my Relief Society Christmas Breakfast.  I have to be there by 7am to set up. lol It's now time for all of the work and family parties.  I didn't mention the gingerbread house night, or the Christmas story night at Dawns...or the performances the choir, band, orchestra, and my singing group have done and have scheduled. lol  I'm tired.  I think it's time for bed now.   Love you all!!!  I miss you and can't wait until Christmas to see some of you.